gain； and it was still there； afraid in case it was a mirage； her brain taunting her with false hopes。 But it was real； dusty but real。
She raised herself up to the level of the sill； peeped over it。 Those awful sub…human creatures were in the rear garden； too； a group of them squatting in a circle amidst the tall seedy grass of the larger lawn； a cross…legged gathering as though they represented some kind of council seated in judgement； grunting and nodding to one another； their rough bodies stark naked。
They're awful； inhuman。
You're one of them； too！
But I can reason； think。
But for how long？ Your periods of civilised behaviour are being shorter and shorter！
Her stomach churned。 Suddenly that telephone on the ledge by her hand was shrinking； growing smaller and smaller； framing itself in a reducing circle； around which was impenetrable blackness spotted with red！ Now； before it's too late！
She grabbed the receiver； almost dropped it。 Rehearsing her words in case they suddenly evaporated from a brain that was starting to go blank。 I'm in number one； First Terrace； Jon。 They're outside； camped in the garden。 Primitive savages and they'll break in and kill me if you don't e quick。 Please believe me； Jon； it's true； I swear it is。 e quickly。 Bring the shotgun。 Oh Jon； please save me from these hideous creatures！
Starting to dial ~ 0 。。。 5 。。。 8 。。。 8 。。。
Something was wrong； her failing sense of reasoning screamed it at her； a realisation that modern technology had ceased to function。 No dialling tone； just a total silence。 When the house had been emptied the telephone had been disconnected！
Sheer primordial rage engulfed her。 She gripped the plastic…coated object with both hands； snapped it in half so easily that it might have been rotten。 One half fell； bounced on the bare floor； the other swung on its flex； mocking her。 She caught it； pulled； tore it from its connection； then grabbed the squat remainder； not knowing what it was； not understanding； only that it was an alien that had to be destroyed。 Smashing it against the wall； fragmenting it； kicking it； crushing it beneath her feet。 Killing it！
And then she was sitting there in the darkening room； smiling to herself。 Whatever it was that had angered her was no more and she was satisfied。 Outside those voices were louder； soft footsteps padding round the house。 A scratching sound。 She looked up； saw the face pressed against the glass； squat hairy features； eyes that rolled and only became still when they saw her。 Fingers； long broken nails； scraping on the glass； clawing it； trying to find a way in。 More faces； coarse beneath the masses of hair； jostling each other eagerly； angrily； for a view of the creature which lay within。
Jackie was not frightened； only puzzled。 She did not know why she was here； why she should be in one place and those people should be in another； cut off from her。 She stood up； smiled at them； grunted a kind of wele。 Let me out； please。
A crash of breaking glass； shards falling into the room； splintering。 A bloody clenched fist powered a second blow and half the window shattered。 Those outside were clamouring excitedly； beginning to force their way in； shoving one another on the sill。 Blood was spurting； a crimson fountain； but they did not appear to notice it； jetting on to walls and ceiling； sluggish rivulets trickling down。
Four of them； fearsome muscular naked males of a species that surely dated back to the mists of time； rough hair matting their tough coarse skin； shaggy beards that virtually hid their expressions； except for their eyes； pinpoints of fire that burned with a lust that was necessary to keep their race alive； circling the woman who stood before them； uncertain。 Perhaps slightly afraid。 Then backing off； except for one。
Jackie's gaze met the latter's and a half…smile eased out of her stoic expression。 Instinct； somehow knowing what was expected of her； accepting it； even relishing the prospect of what lay ahead。
The man was big； well over six feet tali in spite of his hunched shoulders； his muscular legs slightly bowed as though he had only recently learned to walk upright。 He stepped close； tapped her on the shoulder with an extended forefinger then pointed to himself。 An order。 The other three retreated to a corner of the room； the smallest of them still spouting blood from a gashed wrist and trying to stem the flow unsuccessfully with his other hand。 His hairy torso was saturated with the bright scarlet fluid； he did not appear to understand； amazement but not fear。 None of the others seemed to realise that soon he would die； or perhaps it was not important。 They had found a female who would in time bear young； their numbers would not be diminished。
Jackie Quinn followed the big man's fingers with her eyes； saw the outstretched hand ing towards her； a tentative exploration； not so much a fee！ at her well…formed breasts but rather a stroking of her nylon blouse； callouses snagging the material。 Pulling at it； grunting。
She did not understand any more than the other did。 Her body should have been free； unencumbered； instead it was unnaturally encased； unfortable； preventing her from stretching her limbs； displaying herself for the admiration of these males who had e to her。 Something was wrong； she should not be imprisoned； shackled in this shameful way。 Her skin was itching； screaming out for its freedom。
Now it was her fingers； no longer slim and sensuous； which secured a grip on her upper garment。 Buttons were beyond her prehension； she just knew that she had to rid herself of these garments in the quickest possible way。 She pulled； the blouse tore diagonally。 Another tug and it was shredded right across； tearing frantically； desperate to free herself。
A gasp of surprise from the tall dark male； stabbing with his fingers again at her tight bra…cups； rubbing in search of the nipples which were hidden from view。 Somehow his clumsy fumblings found the strap and the strained elastic twanged； brought a howl of fear from his thick bearded lips as it lashed him。 Then he saw the exposed pink firm nipples and his teeth showed in a wide smile。 She was female after all。
The tight…fitting jeans posed a problem for both of them； smooth cotton with nowhere to grip。 He spun her round； ran his hands down her buttocks； let out a loud sigh。 A nod of his head and two of the others stepped forward； the third one already crumpled to the floor still trying to plug his gashed artery。
Help me； for this is indeed a strange woman！
It was sheer bined strength which finally conquered the stubborn jeans； the trouser legs being ripped upwards from the bottom so that the fastener flew open。 Further amazement as a pair of scarlet pants were revealed but there was no time for curiosity now。 They were torn asunder； flung to one side。 A warning growl and the two helpers hastily retreated to join their dying panion。 Their leader had picked his woman and it would be a foolish man who tried to contest the prize。
Beneath her coating of fluffy hair Jackie Quinn's coarse skin prickled and she shuddered in anticipation； knew automatically the role which she was expected to play。 It was her duty； pleasure came second。 A half…glance down at the other's lower regions showed her the solid length of pink flesh protruding from a thick forest of hair。 He was ready； she must not delay or else he would bee angry； might fly into a rage and kill her。 None could deny him his right。
She nodded； turned； and dropped lithely on to all…fours； thighs well apart； buttocks raised。 Tensed； waiting。
He fell on her from behind with the primitive eagerness of an animal which has been kept waiting too long； gripping her thighs painfully for support； stabbing at her to find her entrance； hurting her but she did not cry out。 She pushed backwards to aid his penetration； braced herself in readiness for his slamming thrusts。
So hard and fast； over almost as soon as it had begun； dragging her upright with him； gripping her arm tightly as he turned to face the watchers。 The fleeting glimmer of hope in their tiny eyes died instantly。 This time the pleasure was not to be a shared one。 Their leader sought more than the delights of mating； he required this strange woman to bear his child； to prepare his food and to tend his needs。
His word was law and none would question it until the day came when his leadership was disputed。 And that time was not nigh yet。
Blood dripped steadily into that square hole in the concrete floor； following the slight slope； with a noise like a leaking tap； a crimson lake that would partially empty and then congeal。 The man on the floor was dead but his passing would not be mourned。 Where there was life there was always death； it was the law of Nature and was accepted without question。
Jackie looked up into the face of her lover； recognised his sheer strength and power and her flesh goosepimpled with pride。
'Jac；' she tapped her breasts and smiled。